As a cooperative, we are committed not only to supporting our members but also the wider community around us. With this in mind, we are launching a series of solidarity projects designed to share our services with local and international groups who would not ordinarily be able to afford them.

This will mean:

  • Cut-price or free language classes, translation and proof-reading services for unemployed and low-income workers
  • Collaborative projects with local and international NGOs and charities
  • Exchange of services with other cooperatives who share our vision

Although we believe that charity begins at home, it also begins close to the heart – which is why our first solidarity project will be with an organisation that two of our members have been involved with for several years. For one week this month, SLB will be providing teacher training and English classes to the Phoenix Projects based in Antigua, Guatemala.

Kids line up for a breakfast snack in the Phoenix school in Santa Maria de Sacatapéquez, Guatemala

Kids line up for a breakfast snack in the Phoenix school in Santa Maria de Sacatapéquez, Guatemala

The Phoenix Projects provide free education and sustainable food programmes to impoverished communities across Latin America. In Guatemala, Phoenix runs two schools which employ local teachers and aim to give local children the best possible start in a country rife with inequalities and prejudice. Our role will be to kickstart and provide materials for preparation classes for the Cambridge KET exam – thus giving both students and teachers the chance to gain an internationally recognised English qualification.

Kids participate in a pairwork activity in Santa Maria de Sacatapéquez, Guatemala

Kids participate in a pairwork activity in Santa Maria de Sacatapéquez, Guatemala

We believe this will be an important step along the way to improving not only the employability of the participants, but also to widening access to further education and training. We’ll report back here with news and updates from the ground. Meantime, we hope you’ll have the chance to read more about the Phoenix Projects and consider donating to a very worthy cause.

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  1. […] That is to say, a group of language teachers and related professionals get together, lend and share materials, equipment and training in order to better themselves professionally and economically, and attempt to distribute and market their work collectively. We would only add that by “distribute” we don’t only mean “sell”, as we are also keen to make our services available to NGOs and similar groups on a solidarity basis. […]